Gas tax, in cents per gallon, is starting to come under fire. How are we to maintain our roads if everyone switches to plug-in electric cars? Although this may seem like an absurdly far-off event to worry about, Oregon is already exerimenting with taxing motorists per-mile. That's silly too, since it ads no incentive to conserve gasoline.

I asked "What would a completely fair tax of motor vehicles look like?" Taxing people for the road damage they cause, the carbon & other pollutants they emit, and the threat they pose to others should all be considered. This is the answer I received:

"Robert Zubrin is best known for his daring "Mars Direct" plan, but his most recent book, Energy Victory: Winning the War on Terror by Breaking Free of Oil is set a lot closer to home.  His proposal on solving America's oil addition is simple -- some critics would say too simple.  Here's what Dr. Zubrin has to say."

The interview at Daily Kos is interesting. Basically, he's advocating Congress make all new vehicles sold in the US be required to be flex fuel. While he concedes that American-made corn ethanol is basically a sham, he still sees an opportunity by increasing the number of countries capable to produce motor-vehicle fuel. Who would you rather see get your Ethanol buck?: Iran or Brazil?

What do you think about his analysis?

The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission has provided it's report to Congress.  At my first reading, this report merely looked like a treasure trove of handy quotes endorsing CART's vision.  For example:

Our Nation will need to put more emphasis on transit and intercity passenger rail and make them a priority for our country.  A cultural shift will need to take place across America to encourage our citizens to take transit or passenger rail when the option is given. (volume I, p.1)

But the report goes far beyond that. It seeks an end to the pork-for-pork's sake mentality that is deeply entrenched in Washington. No longer will congresswomen and state DOTs be able to dream up any old crazy project and fund it through political power alone, rather

"Another Dam" Issue

• Mayor Jerry needs to hear you value Public Transportation
• Green Energy Roadshow tours Kentucky
• Mother Anne Lee Dam Online
• Complete Streets bills in Kentucky & Illinois
• TransMilenio Bus Rapid Transit in Bogotá, Colombia
• Wall Street Journal: Oil Officials See Limit Looming on Production
• Bicycle Helmets Stigmatize & Kill?
• Sweden uses Subway Body Heat to Heat Offices